Education Movement That Began at Tundi-Based Tipukharia Ashram Lives On: Sudivya Kumar

Ranchi |

Addressing a dialogue programme organised on the occasion of the 82nd birth anniversary of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren, Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said that the education movement that began at the Tundi-based Tipukharia Ashram continues to inspire the state’s education policies even today.

The minister said that despite having limited formal education, Dishom Guru Shibu Soren believed strongly in the power of education as a tool for social transformation. Through night schools at the Tipukharia Ashram in Tundi, he worked to spread education among the rural and marginalised sections of society, which is why he came to be respectfully known as “Guruji”.

Sudivya Kumar said that the Guruji Student Credit Card Scheme is an extension of the same educational vision championed by Shibu Soren. The scheme aims to support students who are unable to pursue higher education due to financial constraints and to reduce the economic burden on their families.

He emphasised that the success of the scheme depends on effective coordination among three key stakeholders — the government, banks and students. The growing number of student applications under the scheme, he said, reflects the confidence and enthusiasm of the youth towards this initiative.

The minister stated that the state government, in coordination with banks, is working to simplify and speed up the process from application to loan approval and disbursement. He added that coordination with banks will be further strengthened through the State Level Bankers’ Committee to ensure that more students benefit from the scheme.

Sudivya Kumar also assured that technical and administrative issues being faced in the implementation of the scheme would be resolved in a time-bound manner. He expressed confidence that in the coming period, the scheme would play a crucial role in fulfilling the higher education aspirations of eligible students across Jharkhand, while honouring the educational legacy of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren.